For those of you who don't understand knee injuries or pain you should probably stop reading now. But for those who do, you could probably understand my day a bit better.

The day started off sunny with a delicious breakfast from the Mammoth Lakes Rotary Club, which included vital fluids such as coffee. We then headed over to the Alpine lodge to give them our many thanks as they're meeting was just wrapping up. Super cool Doug who bartends at the lodge and had ridden up the Tioga Pass with last year's group also met up with us and gave us an awesome route to Tioga.

So the Pokies (Slow Pokers aka Me, Erica, and George) headed off first from the lodge... At this point I have to admit I sagged the other day (which I hear was murderous) after walking up 1500 ft because of the stupid knee. But with a little help from a multi-tool and some new cleats my knees held up for the first 28 miles of the ride. I must must must recommend the Mammoth Scenic Loop which was an awesome road to take. Few cars, stunning scenery, and a downhill. BIG downhill. Fun fun.

And then we got to Tioga. After a team cheer and a carrot cake clif bar we were off. And by we were off I mean everyone shot out of the parking lot and I moseyed my way into the pass. At this point I saw a sign that said "Steep Grades May Be Difficult for Trailers" and I knew I was in for a treat. At about the 1.5 mile marker my left knee (the supposed healthy one) started to burn and by 2 miles the right one (Mr. Gimpy) was being cranky as well. So off the bike I got and commenced walking.

I made a promoise to myself the night before the pass that I would make it to the top of the pass one way or the other. If I couldn't ride it, I'd walk it. And if walking wasn't going to smooth then I'd have to butt scoot myself up the whole thing. I just had to make it up that pass.

And I did.

At mile 3 Erica and Stokesies was napping at one of the pull over spots so I joined them. And then we kept going. They rode on ahead and I walked behind them. About a mile down the road there was a HUGE block of ice/glacier thing. HUGE as in the size of my apartment huge. They carved "t4k 2005" on the thing and Erica had the brilliant idea of building snowmen. And so we did. We even gave him a smiley face and left him in the middle of the road. No one wanted to run over "Chet" so we left him melting down the road. And off we went. Again. About the time I hit the 6 mile marker I see this little green speck buzzing down the pass. It was Doug. He had already reached the top of the pass with some of our less speed challenged team members and was heading back to get to work in time. As I yelled for him to watch out for Chet the Snowman he pulled over to say thanks for the t-shirt and gave me a hug for the road. And then I kept walking up the hill.

As I turned the corner and saw the sag wagon with lunch I managed a 50 yard sprint to the car with Jen hollering something about Rockstars in my Pink cowboy hat. Lunch was absolutely delicious as I had absolutely not an ounce of strength left in me. After laying around and enjoying the scenery Erica and Ben got on the bikes to go. And I debated whether or not to pull out my sneakers to run up the rest of the way. But instead I just kept walking with good ol Don Juan (my bike, not the breakfast taco) wondering how Chet was doing. At this point the SUV had come back with Gams in the back videotaping the whole debacle. I pretended to get on my areobars and run up one of the steeper sections. If that doesn't get into the documentary I will be very disappointed.

Mile something less than 12: There were a few waterfalls from the snowmelt that Erica decided to dunk her head in. Verrrrry cold from the sound of it. The view now was even more spectacular and involved a bit of picture taking and prancing around the steep cliff. Back on the bike we all got (even me for a bit) until we came across a huge flat piece of ice. So Erica made more snowmen and I decorated the ice with snow angels. It was very amusing although my back was very cold. Jeff promised that up ahead was a nice flat with a slow climb into the end. So off Erica went on her bike with me walking behind. And then... IT GOT FLAT!!! At Ellery Lake the view was beautiful. The water, so cleeeear, I wanted to jump in except I had been forwarned of the icy coldness.

And to make things short, I sprinted to what I thought was the end, but then it wasn't... and then I dragged myself to the REAL finish ON the bike.

Woohoo for being determined and stubborn. I made it up the pass with snowmen, naps, snowangels, and a Henry Weinhard at the very top.